The best point-and-shoot cameras for taking photos

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The Insider Pick:

Point-and-shoot digital cameras are still better than your average smartphone when it comes to taking high-quality photos. The Sony RX100 IV is the best one you can buy with its tremendous image quality and ability to shoot at high speeds.

Point-and-shoot cameras aren’t as popular as they were several years ago. The lower part of the market has become dominated by smartphone cameras, while DSLR cameras rule the upper end of the market. That doesn’t mean you should ignore the best point-and-shoot cameras, though. These cameras still have some benefits that smartphone and DSLR cameras can’t match, making them a perfect choice for certain photographers.

Optical zoom lens: The optical zoom measurement indicates the ability of the point-and-shoot camera lens to magnify the scene. An optical zoom is preferable to a digital zoom, which is found on smartphone cameras, because the optical zoom mechanism doesn’t sacrifice image quality to achieve the magnification like a digital zoom does.

Small camera body: Point-and-shoot cameras nearly always weigh less than DSLR cameras, while also offering a smaller camera body. So if you’re looking to travel with your camera or if you want to carry it in a pocket, the point-and-shoot camera is a great choice.

Overall cost: A point-and-shoot camera has the lens built into the camera body, meaning it will have a lower cost over the long run than DSLR cameras, where you’ll be buying extra lenses. The lens on a DSLR camera can detach from the camera, and adding a new lens provides different capabilities for the DSLR. Because the point-and-shoot camera lens is built in, you’ll often hear this type of camera called a fixed-lens camera.

Tough and waterproof features: Certain point-and-shoot cameras are able to be used in water because they have a sealed camera body that keeps the water out. Don’t try dunking many smartphone cameras or DSLRs in water (at least without a protective case), or you’re going to end up with an expensive paperweight. Some point-and-shoot cameras also are shockproof, meaning they can survive a fall of several feet without breaking.

Downsides of point-and-shoot cameras

Point-and-shoot cameras certainly won’t fit every photography situation you may encounter, though. The best DSLR cameras are just so strong in so many areas, and smartphone cameras are just so convenient, that it’s tough for an inexpensive point-and-shoot camera to compete in the following areas.

Image quality: We at Business Insider shot a series of photos that compared a DSLR camera, a point-and-shoot camera, and a smartphone camera. The DSLR camera, thanks to a larger image sensor in terms of physical size, is able to outperform both point-and-shoot and smartphone cameras with regard to image quality nearly every time, especially in low-light conditions. The image sensor is the chip inside the camera that measures the light from the scene to create the photograph.

Limited manual control features: Although point-and-shoot cameras do offer many more manual control features than they did a few years ago, experienced photographers still greatly prefer the DSLR cameras because of the full manual controls they offer. Point-and-shoot cameras are designed to be easy to use, which typically means limited manual control over the settings.

Convenience: Because people carry their smartphones with them everywhere, the smartphone camera has grown in popularity in a hurry in the past several years. It’s so convenient to use the smartphone camera that people almost consider it a hassle to have to carry a separate point-and-shoot camera, even if it fits in a pocket.

The best point-and-shoot camera overall

Sony

Why you'll love it: The Sony RX100 IV point-and-shoot camera's large image sensor produces great low-light photography and it takes great photos in every situation.

Great image quality holds back a lot of cameras in the point-and-shoot market, as they cannot stand up to their more advanced DSLR brethren. When shooting with the Sony RX100 IV, though, you won’t have to sacrifice much in terms of high-resolution photos or strong image quality in all types of shooting conditions.

This Sony camera includes a 1-inch image sensor, which is just a bit smaller than the image sensors found in entry-level DSLRs. Additionally, the RX100 IV is a fast performer, ranking near the top of the point-and-shoot category. Ken Rockwell’s review of this Sony camera praises the strong images it produces in all lighting conditions.

If you also want to shoot video with your point-and-shoot camera, the RX100 IV is about as good as it gets. Imaging Resource points out the camera's 4K video resolution and HDMI output port as great bonus features that aren’t typically included on point-and-shoot models.

Another great move Sony made with the RX100 IV was its decision to include a viewfinder. I hate to date myself, but I can remember when every camera — film and digital — included a viewfinder.

For the past several years, viewfinders have become rare on point-and-shoot cameras, as beginning photographers often prefer to frame scenes using a display screen. However, as you become more familiar with cameras, you’ll find it just feels more natural to use a viewfinder to record photos.

However, you get what you pay for, and the RX100 IV's ability to create great looking photos in all sorts of shooting conditions makes it well worth the money — especially when you compare it to the competition.

The best big zoom point-and-shoot camera

Those seeking a great camera for travel will love the Canon PowerShot G3 X. It’s a strong all-around model with a 25X optical zoom lens that’ll help you capture subjects that are far away or nearby. It’s able to shoot almost equally well in sunlight as well as in low light. It’s not a huge camera, either, so you can carry it easily while traveling, as multiple customers at buyers on Amazon mention in their reviews.

When I tested the PowerShot G3 X for a Steve’s Digicam’s review, I was especially impressed with its versatility. It records great photographs, and it offers plenty of impressive extra features, such as a large touchscreen LCD that also tilts, allowing for selfies and odd-angle photos.

Having a touchscreen LCD is a great feature in a point-and-shoot camera, making it easier to operate for inexperienced photographers. When I go on a trip, I really want a versatile camera, because I’m not always sure what kind of shooting conditions I will encounter.

In ePhotozine’s review of the G3 X, the camera’s 1-inch image sensor and strong optical zoom lens received high marks. A 1-inch image sensor is just a little smaller in physical size than what’s found in entry-level DSLR cameras, so the PowerShot G3 X is able to create great looking photos.

However, the camera does see its performance levels slow considerably when shooting in the advanced RAW image format, which has no compression applied to it, unlike the more common JPEG image format.

You will have to pay a large price for the PowerShot G3 X, so it may not appeal to everyone seeking a point-and-shoot camera. But if you want top-flight image quality in an easy-to-use camera that offers a lot of versatility, the G3 X is one of my favorites.

Pros: Large image sensor yields great photographic quality, 25X optical zoom lens is a great size, camera is thinner than most big zoom cameras, LCD screen is touch enabled and tilts

One Amazon customer review highlights the PowerShot G9 X’s fast performance speeds, including its ability to record at up to 8 frames per second when shooting in burst mode, which is extremely impressive for a point-and-shoot camera.

Additionally, the Mark II offers improved battery life and image quality in low light versus its predecessor, the G9 X. Even with that improvement, the Mark II’s battery life is not as good as I’d like to see, offering only about 235 shots per charge.

When shooting in low light, the G9 X Mark II is able to create images with limited noise. Typically, point-and-shoot cameras really struggle with high levels of noise in low-light photos, so the G9 X Mark II is well above average in comparison with the competition.

The ePhotozine review of the Canon G9 X Mark II focuses on the 1-inch image sensor that Canon chose to include with this camera. With an image sensor that’s larger than what’s typically found in a point-and-shoot camera, the G9 X Mark II can outperform others in its class in terms of image quality.

You’ll find a 3-inch LCD screen with touch capabilities on this camera, too, making it easier to use for inexperienced photographers than cameras without touchscreens. Overall, the G9 X Mark II is a great camera for people on the go.

Pros: Small camera body that fits in a pocket, excellent results in low-light photos, extremely fast performer with high burst rate, includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity

The best inexpensive point-and-shoot camera

Why you'll love it: The Nikon Coolpix A300 certainly isn’t going to blow you away with great features, but it has a very low price tag for a fixed-lens camera.

For those who need an inexpensive point-and-shoot camera, our favorite is the recently released Nikon Coolpix A300. We have to mention up front that this is not a powerful camera.

The A300 is a simple camera that doesn’t cost much because it doesn’t offer the features that the more expensive point-and-shoot cameras on our list boast. But for those with basic photography needs, such as inexperienced photographers or even children, the Coolpix A300 is definitely worth a look.

In its review, Digital Camera HQ highlights the budget-friendly aspect of the Coolpix A300. You shouldn’t expect high-quality images with this camera, but you can make use of both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity with the A300 to copy your photos to your smartphone wirelessly.

It's also nice that the A300 can fit into a pocket, and it's a lightweight camera, weighing only about 4 ounces, so it’s easy to take this camera with you anywhere you go. Its 8X optical zoom lens is perfect for a pocket-sized, inexpensive point-and-shoot camera. The A300 measures only 0.8 inches in thickness when powered down.

In its preview of the Coolpix A300, Imaging Resource highlights the 20-megapixel resolution the camera’s image sensor offers, which is a large amount for an inexpensive camera.

However, with an image sensor that only measures 1/2.3 inches, the Nikon A300’s image sensor is only a little larger in physical size than an image sensor found in a smartphone camera. This means you shouldn’t expect good image quality when shooting in low-light conditions, as cameras with small image sensors struggle in low light.

Even with its downsides, the Coolpix A300 is a decent option for those on a budget who want something a little more high-end than a smartphone.

The best waterproof point-and-shoot camera

GoPro

Why you'll love it: The GoPro Hero5 Black is a fun camera that can record 4K video and shoot decent stills in any conditions — even underwater.

People love GoPro cameras, and with good reason. They are small enough to take anywhere or to attach to your body, making it a snap to capture first-person video. They’re waterproof, meaning you can use them almost anywhere you’re having fun, and they're easy to operate, too. The best of the GoPro family right now is the GoPro Hero5 Black, and it's our favorite waterproof point-and-shoot camera.

The Black is a great camera for using almost anywhere, but it’s especially good around water. The Hero5 Black offers the best build quality among GoPro models and it's waterproof. It’s also a tough camera that can survive falls and various jolts and bumps.

However, this point-and-shoot action camera is limited to 12 megapixels of resolution with its still images, which is below average in the point-and-shoot digital camera market. Obviously, the GoPro Hero5 Black really shines when it comes to video. It can record video at a 4K resolution, which isn't something you'll get from other point-and-shoot cameras.

As CNET points out in its review, the GoPro Hero5 Black is the top camera in the GoPro family. The only real downside seems to be below average battery life, which limits your ability to shoot photos and videos throughout the entire day.

Pros: Flexible camera that works in a variety of settings, can record 4K video, includes built-in GPS, offers a waterproof body, has a touchscreen display

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